Gumming machine



M. FEYBUSCH Er AL sumume momma Filed April 1, 1925 a sheets-sheet 1 5 VINVENTORS I h JPMHRT/N FEYBUSCI/ Dec. 25, 1928. T396755 M. FEYBUSCH ET AL GUMHING MACHINE Filed April l, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS MFIRT/N F E Y Buacn Dec. 25; 1928 v 1,696,755

I M. FEYBUSCH ETAL v GUMMING MACHINE Filed April I, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 llll H 1||||| INVENTORS Mann/v FEYBuscH PHI/L W. FLE/SCI/ER ATTORNEYS Dec. 25, 1928. I 1,696,755

M. FEYBUSCH ET AL GUMMING MACHINE Filed April 1, 1925' I a Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS ly/mruv FErBuscH p 73/? W. FZEIJC/IER ATTORNEYS Dec. 2S, 1928.

1,696,155 M. FEYBUSCH El AL GUMMING MACHINE FiledA ril 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS v MflRT/N FEYBUSCII' 1704 FLEISCHER Patented D ec. 25 19 28.

UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

EIARTIN FEYBUSCH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AN D PAUL W. FLEISCHER, OF WEEHAWKIEN',v

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO NEW JERSEY MACHINE CORPORATION, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GUMMING MACHINE.

Application filed April 1, 1925. Serial No. 19,821.

This invention relates to machines for handling paper sheets, labels, or the like and has for its principal object to provide a new and improved construction of a machine of the type that automatically removes a paper sheet from a" stack of such sheets, feeds it to a mechanism for performing some operation thereon, as for example, applying a coating of adhesive thereto, and then conveying the sheet away from said mechanism preferably to another machine for further manipulation or treatment.

Another object of the present invention is to improve upon the machine disclosed in our co-pending application for United States Patent filed January 15, 1923, under Serial N 0. 612,618, in which is disclosed a machine for gumming labels, paiticularly adapted for .use with a second machine, such for example as a paper box wrapping or labeling machine, or a can labeling machine. As the particular operation performed by the said secondmachine is immaterial, in sofar as the present invention is concerned, such second machine will be hereinafter referred to as the secondary machine. While these secondary machines operate continuously to perform a certain cycle of operations, the labels must be,

delivered to them one by one, that is intermittently, at a predetermined point or step in each cycle of operation. Therefore, the operation of gumming machine must be timed to accord with the operation of the secondary machine to which it'. delivers the sheets or labels- The feeding of single sheets of paper by automatic machinery, particularly when such sheets are gummed and also when they must be delivered in accurate timed relationship presents-special problems,

consequently it has been exceedingly difficult to devise automatic machinery for this purpose, Whichwould not require the employment of highly skilled operatives,'nor necessitate frequent stoppages of the machine for adjustment and rep-airs. It isafurt-her object of our invention to provide an automatic machine of the character set forth which will meet the requirements enumerated above and will operate withgreat reliability and efliciency.

Considered more specifically, other objects of the present invention are to improve upon the construction and operation of the means for separating and removing the sheets or labels from the stack,the means for automatically elevating the stack or pile of sheets so as to maintain the top surface of such stack between certain predetermined levels and thereby insure the proper contact of the sheet removing arm with the top sheet of the stack,-the means for insuring the removal of the sheets or labels from the gum- Hung Q mechanism by the c0nveyor,-the means for spacing the labels upon the conveyor,the manner of mounting the conveyor to permit it to be adjusted for delivering the labels to different types of secondary machines,th.e construction and opera-' tion of the glue applying roll and its associated parts sothat the adhesive will'be applied to the sheets with a wiping action so as to smooth the adhesive coating,to improve upon the construction of the means for controlling the operation of the gumming ma chine by the operator of the labeling machine, and finally to provide a novel construction for positively controlling. in accordance with the thickness of the paper being handled, the amount of air delivered to certain blowing nozzles used in the machine. 1

These and further objects will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains from the following more detailed description and byreference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,

and wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear view; Fig 3 is a side elevation; Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a smtionon the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of the suction release valve; Fig. 7 is a detail plan view partially broken away of the regulating bar for controlling the automatic operation of the table elevating means; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 7 lookin in the direction indicated by the arrow 9; ig. 10 is an enlarged sectional detail of the sheet separating means showing a portion of a stack of sheets or labels; Fig. 11 is a view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 10 as seen from the right hand side thereof; the stack of labels beingremoved; Fig. 12 is an elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 10; Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional detail ofthose parts'of the machine which deliver the labels to and from the glue applying roller; Fig. is-a horizontal sectional detail, on an enlarged scale, of the air nozzle and associated parts which cause the labels to be delivered with certainty to the conveyor; Fig. 16 is ase'ction on the line 1616 of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a section on the line 17-17 of Fig. 3; Fig. 18 is a. sectional detail of an air regulating valve; and Figs. 19 and 20 are sections on the lines 19-19 and 20-20 of Fig 18; .Fig. 21 is a modification of a constructional detail.

For convenience and clarity of description the construction of the various parts of the machine will be described under the following headings: Label stack supporting means; Sheet separating means; Sheet removing means; Table elevating "means; Means for preventing dragging of sheets; Gluing mechanism; Means-for removing the sheets from the glue applying mechanism; Positive air Driving mechacontrolling means conveyor,

Operati on.

nisms, Means for dist'a'nt control, Label stack supporting means (Figs. ,2,

3 and 4) e The main framework of the machine consists of a. base 20 to which is suitably secured a pair of side frames 21 and 22. Extending between and bolted to the frames 21 and 22 at the rearend thereof, is a bracket 23, (see Figs. 2 and 4) having a rearwardly projecting housin 24 integral therewith. Mounted upon a stu shaft 25 which extends through said housing, is a pinion 26 which meshes with a rack 27 secured to a vertically extending table elevating bar 28. The upper end of the bar 28 is secured to a verticall movable table 29, upon which a stack of abels 30 is adapted to be placed; said bar being slidably "mountedina guide way formed by the rear face of the housing 24 and a channeled cover plate 24.

In order to hold the stack of labels in proper alignment upon the table 29, we previde a knee bracket 31, adjustable longitudinally of'the table and having a bolt 32 passing therethrough; the head of said bolt being mounted within a slot '33 which extends along the longitudinal center of the table, and being provided with a ball headed nut 34 for securing the bracket 31 in adjusted position. The vertically extending wall of bracket 31 has 'slidably mounted therein a pair of horizontall extending bars 35, each of which has seen "to one end thereof, a vertically extending rod 36 for engaging the rear side edges of the label-stack. Set screws 36 are provided for holding the bars 35 in adjusted 'tion. The front side edges of the stack are maintained in proper position by means i to the bar 36, secured of a pair of members, each of which comprisesa' verticallyextending bar 37 similar to theend of a rod 38, adjustable longitudinally of a bracket 39;

the brackets 39 being provided with set screws 40 to hold the bars 38 in position and having dowel pins 41 (see Fig 2), adapted to engage within suitable apertures provided in the table 29; set screws 42 also being provided for engaging the dowel pins and holding the brackets 39 and rods 38 at'theproper adjusted angular positions.

The top portion of the plate 43, against which the front edges ofthe sheets 30 rest, is

supported and guided for limited vertical movement by a pair of levers 43, having one end pivotally mounted upon the ins 43", secured in the side frames 21, 22, an their other ends pivotally connected to the pins 43, se-

cured to and projecting beyond the side edges of the plates (see Figs. 2 and 4). A somewhat similar arrangement is provided for the bottom portion of the plate 43 a supporting bar 43, having its upper end secured to the I plate 43, is ivoted at its lower end to a lever 43 shafft 43, mounted in suitable bearings pro vided in the side frames 21, 22. One end of which is fixedly secured to a transverse the shaft 43 extends outwardlybeyond the B side frame 21 and has secured thereto an operating lever 43* (see Fig. 3). The operating lever is provided with an elongated slot 43* through which the bolt 43 passes for secur ing the lever and connected parts in adjusted position. The outer end of lever 43' is preferably formed to provide a pointer or indicator 43 and a' scale 43 may be provided for indicating various adjusted positions of'the lever and plate 43. Sheet separating means (Figs. 4, 10

- inclmive and-18).

Secured to the plate 43, adjacent to the central top part thereof, is abra'cket 44 (see Figs.

4 and 10) which is provided with a conduit 45 to which air is supplied from the blower side of a pump 50, (F g. 1), by means of a pipe 46 (Fig. 10) a regulating valve being interposed between-sa1d pump and' pipe. The pump 50 is supported upon a bracket 51 secured -to the side frame 22 and is driven by mechanism to be hereinafter described. The delivery end of the conduit 45 is closed by a plate 45 (Fig. 11) seated within an op' upper edge of the plate 43, and provided with a central elongated slot 47 and a pair of inclined apertures 48, one on each side of said Jcentral slot; the inclination of the apertures such as to directthe air currents to- I20 48 being ening provided at the wards the side edges of the sheets 30. Air is blown continuously through the slot 47 and apertures 48, and serves'to separate the top sheets from the stack, thereby tending to re- Y sheets from adhering together w en 12:- sheet is removed bythe sheet removing head presently to be described.

vent two the top Additional means are also provided to prevent the removal ofmore than one sheet at a time from the label stack and such means 'may comprise a brush 52 or other suitable" means suitabl mounted upon the bracket 44, the bristles o the brush-being located above the top plate 43 and projecting towards the front edge of the label stack so that as the sheets are removed and carried from the stack Sheet remooing means (Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6'). I

The sheet removing mechanism consists of a suction head 53 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) carried by a rock shaft 54 rotatably mounted in the upper ends of a pair of,vertically extending arms 55. The arms 55 are mounted for vertical-reciprocation adj aeent to the side frames.

21, 22, and lateral movement thereof is prevented, by suitable guides 56 secured to the side frames and with which the upper portions of the arms are engaged, and by the bifurcated lower ends 57 (Fig. 5) of the arms 55 which straddle a cam shaft 58. Adjacent to the bifurcated lower ends 57, each rod '55 is provided with a roller 59, which engages within a cam groove 60 provided in a cam 61 fixedly secured to the cam shaft 58 a pair of said cams being provided, one adjacent to each side frame 21, 22.

The rock shaft 54 also has secured thereto, a short distance from the side frame 22, a crank arm 62 (Figs. 4 and 5) having secured to its outer end an operating arm-63 (Fig. 4)- which is provided at its lower end with an elongated slot through which the cam shaft 58 passes. A roller 64' carried by the arm 63 engages with the periphery of a cam 63, secured to the cam shaft 58 alongside the cam 61 nearest the side frame 22. A suitable spring (not shown) is connected with the arm '55 and arm 63 for holding the roller 64 inengagement' with cam 63 The cams 61 with their cam grooves are arranged-to causethe crank shaft 54 and suction head 53 to'be reciprocated v'er- "--ti-cally, and while they are at the same time oscillated by the cam 63, arm 63, and crank 62, so that the lower face of the suction head 53 is brought into contact with the-top sheet 30 of the stack of labels, to raise the sheet. then carry it forwardly over the inclined feed plate 65, and deliver it to the co-operating' feeds rolls 66, 67. Both the upper and lower 55 feed rolls 66, 67 are provided with spaced cir cumferentially extending grooves, Extension fingers-65 are formed on the upper edge of the feed plate 65, said extension fingers projecting into the groove of the lower-roll 66 andterminating closely adjacent to the glue applying roller, to be hereinafter described, and supporting the sheet until itis carried along by said glue applying roller. As a further precaution against the removal of more than one sheet at a time from the stack the sheet removing or' suction-head53 has imparted to it 'a slight rearward movement, parallel to the plane of the top sheet of the stack, which movement occurssimul taneously with the lifting of the sheet.

This movement of the suction head may be effectedby the provision of a small hump 63", (Fig.4), upon the periphery of the cam 63, arranged to engage the roller 64 on the arm '3 just as the suction head is caused to begin its upwardmovement by the action of the cams 61 and rods 55.

A-modified and preferred construction for producing this slight rearward movement of the suction-head is shown in Fig.21 of the drawing-and comprises an arm 54 secured to the'rock shaft 54 adjacent to one of the side frames. The arm 54 terminates at its free end in a shoe 54 which is adapted, when the suction head 53 is brought down into contact withthe sheet stack, to engage with the rear face of the adjacent guide 56 for the arm 55, said -shoe being held in contact with said \guide by the spring (not shown) for holding the roller 64 in engagement with the cam 63.

The contacting faces of the shoe 54 and guide 5 56 are providedres-pectively with a projecting rib 54 and a recess 56 adapted to interlock when-the shaft 54 and suction head are moved to their lowest positions by the cams 61. The rib 54 and recess 56 have inclined cam surfaces at their upper ends to cause a slight rearward or counter clockwise movement ofthe arm 54 shaft 54 and suction head 53 just at the beginning of the raising movement of the rock shaft and suction head by the cams 61. The construction shown in Fig. 21 serves not only to produce the desired slight rearward movement of the suction head 53 but also overcomes the tendency of said head to vibrate or chatter as it is moved t0"itsshect engaging position, this vibration or chattering being objectionable when the machine is being used for a jobwhich requiresvery accurate registering of the labels on the article to which they are afiixed.

In order that the suctionhead 53 may be I adjusted to meet changing conditions, it is secured to the rock shaft 54-by means of a sectional arm construction which consists of a bracket 68 fixedly secured to the rock shaft and having at its lower end an elongated arcuate slot 69. 'A second bracket 7 0 has screwed 'vther'ein a-bolt '71 which passes through the elongated slot 69 for connecting the. two

brackets together. The second bracket 70 inturn carries a mouth piece bracket 7 2 secured thereto by avertically extending slot and bolt connection 73; the bracket 72 having connected thereto'the'suction head '53. It will thus Y Q be seen that the arcuate slot 69 permits adj ustment of the suction head53 about the axis of the rock shaft 54, while the vertically ,extending elongated, slot connection 7 8 permits vertical adjustment.

The suction head 53 is in the form of a hollow casting, in accordance with the usual construction of devices of this character, having in its lower face a plurality of apertures through which suction, produced by the pump 50, is exerted upon the sheets or labels to be takenfrom the stack; A laterally extending nipple 53 (Fig. 2) communicates with the interior of the suction head and has connected thereto one end of a flexible tube 74, the other end of which tube is connected with a suction release valve (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6). This release valve comprises a bracket 75, suitably secured to the side frame 22 and provided with an air conduit 7 6 (Fig. 6),

' which furnishes'communication between the v pipe 74 and the pipe 77 leading to the pump 50. Secured upon a transversely extending shaft 79, which is rotatably mounted in the bracket 7 5, is a valve member 80, provided at one end thereof with a cam roller 81 adapted to be engaged by the periphery 82 of the cam 61, mounted upon the cam shaft 58 adjacent to the side frame 22. A spring plunger 83 slidably mounted in a suitable bore of the 'valve member 80'engages with a rearwa'rdly extending lug 84 provided upon the bracket and serves to normally hold the cam roller 81 in contact with the periphery'of its cam 61, and also to hold a packing plug 85, suitably secured to the valve member 80, in enriphery. of cam 61 as clearly shown in Fig; 6

agement with the end of a laterally extend is providedwitha throw portion 87' which at-* predetermined intervals engages the cam roller 81 and moves the valve member in a counter clockwise direction against the action of the spring pressed plunger 83, to thereby throw the conduits 86 and 76 in communicat-ion with the atmosphere and destroy wardly projecting arms the suction'from the-pump 50 to the suction head 53; the throw 87 of the cam being so arranged that the suction within the suction head53 will be interrupted just as the suction head is delivering a sheet or label to the feed rolls 66, and 67.

Table elevating means (Figs. 1., 5, 7, 8 and 9 As the sheets are removed from the stack by the suction head 53, the height of the upper surface of the stack will be gradually lowered, therefore it becomes necessa to provide means for raising the table 29, from time to time in order to maintain the top sheet always in a position. such that it may be engaged by the suctionhead. The followin means have been provided for this purpose: fixedly secured to a transverse shaft 90 (see Figs. 4, 5, 7 8, and 9) is a pair of rear- 91 (Fig. 7 each being provided at their rear extremities with an apertured boss 92. A bar 93 extends transversely of the machine above the upper surface of the label stack, and is. provided at'each end with alaterally projecting stud 9-4, slidably received within its corresponding apertured boss 92; 'set screws being provided to hold the bar 93 in adjusted position. Mounted upon one of the studs 92 is a depending bracket 95 (Fig. 8) having at its lower end an apertured boss 96 into which extends a stud 97 projecting laterally from a nut 98. The nut 98 is mounted upon one end of the screw 99 which passes rotatably through the rear outer end of a two armed lever 100. The lever 100 (see Fig. 5) is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 90 and extends forwardly and downwardly, a lock nut 101 being provided to lock thenut 98 in adjusted position longitudinally of'said screw.

It will be seen that when the screw 99 is rotated to change the adjustment of the bar 93, the movement of'the nut 98 caused by said rotation will cause a corresponding movement of the arm 91 (shown at the lower part of Fig. 7 and as this arm is secured fixedly to the transverseshaft 90,-an equal and similar movement of theother arm 91 will be 1produced, whereby the bar .93 will always e maintained parallel with the upper plane surface of the table 29.

Means are provided for raising the bar- 93 out of contact with the top surface. of the sheets in order to permit the suction head 53 to remove the top sheet, and for this purpose,

the lever 100-has secured thereto (see Fig. 5),

the upper end of a link 102, the lower end of which is connected with .an operating lever 103, rotatably mounted upon a stub shaft 10&. The lever 103 carriesa cam roller-105 which engages with the peripheral surface 106 of the cam 61 adjacent'to theside frame 21, said surface having a throw portion 107 which is adapted to raise the lever 100 and bar 93 at the proper predetermined intervals; the major portion of the cam surface 107 allowing the bar 93 to fall and rest upon the top sheet of the stack. A spring'108, connected with the end oflever 103, serves to assist in raising the parts.

One of the rock shaft carrying arms 55 is provided with a forwardly directed extension 110 having pivotally secured thereto, the upper end of a rod 111, the lower end of said rod being cut away to provide a tooth or III shoulder 112 which is adapted, under certain conditions, to engage with a plate 113 carried by the forward end of a lever 114. The lever 114is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 25 hereinbefore referred to, which shaft itwill be remembered has secured thereto the pinion 26 which meshes with the rack 27 for elevating thetable 29. The lower end of the rod 111 passes through an elongated slot 115 of the lever 114, and the rod has secured between its ends a weight 116 which normally holds the shoulder 112. out-of engagementwith the plate 113. The rear end of the lever 114ri$ provided with a lug 114 carrying an eeann adjustable screw 114: which is normally held againsta portion of the bracket 23 by means of a spring 118 connected to the rear outer end of the lever, to thereby always maintain the lever in the proper position to be engaged by the rod 111. The rear end of the lever 114 carries rotatably a pawl 117 (Fig. 3): the

toothed end of which is normally held in engagement, by gravity, with the oneeway A second pawl 120,

vided for holding the ratchet wheel 119 against movement in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3) during the oscillation of the pawl 117. The pawl 120 is provided'with a handle 121 to throw the same out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, whenever it is desired to lower the table 29 manually by means of the hand wheel 122 secured upon the outer end of the shaft 25. To avoid the necessity for manually operating both of thepawls 117 and 120 out of engagement, when it is desired to lower the table 29 manually, the pawl 1-17 is provided with'an upwardly extending arm 117, having a socket 117, in which a pin 120 projecting from the pawl 120, engages to cause the pawl 117 to be thrown out when the pawl 120 is thrown toinoperative position.

The lower front end of the lever 1.00 is provided with an adjustable screw 123, (Fig. 5) which is adapted, whenever the top surface of the stack of sheets falls below a predetermined level, to engage with the rod 111 and force the same against action of the weight 116 in a forward direction so as to bring the shoulder 112 into engagement with the plate 113. As the rod 111 is carried by the vertically reciprocating arms 55, it will be seen that when the shoulder 112 engages with the plate 113, the

lever 114 will be caused to rock upon its pivot and thereby cause the pawl 117, carried by the rear end of the lever to rotate the ratchet wheel 119 and thus elevate the table and stack of she ts, As'soon as the-top surface of the pile of sheets passes abovea predetermined level, the screw 123 will be moved out of engagement with the rod 111, thereby permitting disengagement of the shoulder 112 and plate 113, and in the further operation of the machine the rod 111 will merely reciprocate idly in the slot 115 without causing any movement of the lever .114 until the top of t e stack again drops .below its lower predetermined level; this idle movement of-the rod 111 continuing until it is again engaged by the screw 123.

for preventing dragging of (Figs. 4, 12 and 13).

In order to prevent the uppermost sheets of thestack from being blown away by the Means sheets air currents which issue from the slot 47 and apertures' lS at the time when the 8116131011 head"53=isnotincontact with the sheets, and

also to assist in the separation of long sheets from the stack, the following means are provided: rotatably mounted in apair of bearings 125, 126 (see Fig. 12) provided in the bracket 44 is an air manifold 127, having a plurality of upwardly extending outlets 128, to which are connected the curved nozzles 129, having their front ends terminating adjacent to the upper surface of the sheet stack near the front thereof. The manifold 127 has one end thereof extended through the bracket 126 to provide a valve 130, in the form of a rearwardly extending arm provided with a conduit 131. Air is admitted into thevalve 130 through an aperture 132 (Fig; 13) in the side face of said arm, which aperture furnishes communication between thebranch conduit 131 and a cbnduit 133, provided in the bracket 126; the lower end of the conduit 133 having secured thereto a pipe 134 which connects to the blower side of the pump 50 through the valve 300 to be presently described.

The following means are provided for oscillating the manifold 127 so as to swing the nozzles 129 ,to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 10 out of the path of movement of the top sheet as it is raised by the suction head and for also actuating the valve 130 intermittently so as to supply the current of air through the nozzles 129 only at the time when the nozzles are in the full line position and in contact/with the top surface of the stack of sheets. The left hand end (Fig. 12) of the manifold 127 is extended beyond the bearing 125 and is provided with a laterally extending bifurcated arm 135 to which is pivotall secured the upper end of a cam lever 136, Fig.

.4), the lower end of which is bifurcated to straddle the cam shaft '58. A cam roller 137,

mounted upon the cam lever 136 adjacent to its lower end, is adapted to be engaged by-a cam 138 secured to the cam shaft for raislng the camlever at predetermined intervals. The cam 138 is so constructed and arranged that the nozzles 129 will be thrown to the dotted line position only during the initial raising of the top sheet and will be returned to full line position in contact with the stack just as the forward swinging movement of the suction head begins. When the cam lever 136 is lowered by the cam 138, the aperture 132 of the branch conduit 131 will be brought into alignment with the conduit 133 of the bracket 126, thus permitting the air from the pipe 134 to pass to the air manifold 127 and out through the nozzles 129, blowing down upon the stack and between 1t and the sheet that is being carried away by the suction head, thereby causing a current of air to pass under the sheet and prevent dragging of the rear end thereof upon the top surface of the stack.

Glue applying mechanism igs.1,3;4 and 5).

The following means are provided forap- "plying the glue or othervadhes'ive to the sheets ;a glue pan 140 is detachably mounted within a heating jacket 141; brackets 142 be-' ing suitably secured-to and extending downwardly from the jacket 141, The, brackets 142 are guided for up and down movement i the lower ended the brackets 142, and

- rolls, towards and into contact with the gluealso serves to guide said brackets 142 in their vertical movement. The crank arms 146 are inthe form of a yoke, (Fig. 1)'

between the arms of which arepivotv ally secured the lower ends of the links 147; the. upper. ends of said links being connected, to the tie rod 142. .The shaft 145 extends outwardly beyond the frame member 21 and has secured to its outer end a hand lever 148 (Fig. 3) for the purpose of raising and lowering the heating acket and glue pan. A glue roller 149 is mounted rotatably in suitable bearings provided in the glue roller adjusting levers 150 (see Fig. 14), each of saidlevers being pivoted at one end, as at 151, to the side fraines, and being provided'at the other ends with the headed screw 152',

:which engages a suitable abutment on the side frames for the purpose'o'f adjusting the height of the glue roller relatively to the glue applying roller 153. The glue applying roller 153 is mounted above the glue roller 149 in suitablebearings in the frame members 21, 22, with its periphery in contact with said glue roller 149, and suitable mechanism to be hereinafter described is rovided for driving theglue applying ro-ler at a greater rate ofspeed than the feed rollers 66, 67.

A guide plate 154 is provided to guide and direct the sheet-as it passes from the feed applyin roller 153; said guide plate hav- 1 ing its ront face curved to extend about a portion 'of the periphery of the roller 153 to direct the sheets into cont-act with said roller. In order to insure the gumming of the forward ed e of the sheet the lower edge of the curved ront face of the guide plate terminates 'below the horizontal plane in which the axis of the roller 153 lies, and as the sheet is fed to the roller from right to left (in the drawing) that portion of the periphery'of the roller lyin in the same horizontal plane as the axis wi l, as clearly shown, extend to the right beyond the line along which the first contact of the sheet with the roller occurs.

This will cause a suflicient bending back of upper flight of the conveyor.

the sheet, as it is fed to and carried around by'the glue applying roller, to insure an appreciable pressure of. the sheet against the roller, thereby securing an efficient coating of the entire sheet. Asthe sheet is carried up- 'wardly around the roller 153, the straight edge formed by the intersection of the lower and front walls of the guide plate'154 will exert a downward pressure upon the sheet 'which will cause the sheet to be presmd pressed against the glue applying roll. A guard late 155 is interposed between the lower eed roll 67 and the glue roller 149, to prevent spattering of glue upon the feed rolls. Theupper feed roll 66 and guide plate 154 are mounted in a movable frame,

work, consisting of the guide plate 154- and a pair of adjustable levers 156, the front ends of which levers are bifurcated as at 157 to straddle the reduced end ofthe bearing 158 for the shaft 158 of the glue applying roller. The length of the arms formed by the bifurcated ends 157 is such as to bring the outer e-nds-ofsuch armsvheyond the center of the bearing 158 and one of such-arms is provided with a: plunger 159 which is ressed outwardly of the arm towards sai bearing so i that when the bifurcated end of the lever. 156 is placed over the hearing, it will be retained in position by the plunger 159; a spring 160'being provided to normally hold the plunger in its outer position. Adjustscrew 161 serving to adjust the position of the feed roller 66 relatively to its co-operating roll 67, and the screw 162 serving to adjust the positionof the plate 154 relatively to the glue applying roll.

' ing mechanism (Figs. 1, 14 and 1-5). j

The glue applying roller 153 is provided with a plurality of grooves 163 (Fig. 1) in which the lower ends of the sheet removing fingers 164 project. The sheet removing or pickofi fingers 164 are mounted at spaced intervals upon a rod 165 .(Fig. 14) detachably mounted between the side frames 21, 22. Each of the pick-off fingers 164 is in the form of a plate which extends longitudinally of the machine with the flat sides thereof in vertical planes. The front end of each plate is 'cut out, as at 166, tostraddle the rod 167 which extends between and is secured to the side frames 21, 22. The rear ends of the plates 164 are curved, as at 168, to direct the sheets after they have been removed from the glue applying roller 163 onto a conveyor 170; a pair of rollers-169 (Fig. 4) being mounted upon brackets 169", secured to the M aims for removing the sheets from the 921 --ment screws 161 and 162 are'provided; the a rod 167 to hold the sheets in contact with the In order to insure th t the sheets will" be carried along by theconv'eyor, we have provided means for blowing them onto the con;

- of paper,

nozzles with the tube. also provided with a radially extending holveyor belt as they leave the pick-off fingers 164. The following means is provided for this purpose:

frame 22-is a bracket 171, (Fig. 15) to which is connected a pipe 172, leading through chamber 302 to the blower side of the pump 50. A spring pressed. centering plug 173 is slidably inounted for longitudinal movement 176 with which the conduit 174 cmmuni-' cates, and the conduit 17 6 branches laterally ashort distance from the end of the rod to connect with a conduit 177, provided in a bracket 178. The bracket 178 extends downwardly and has secured in an apertured boss at the lower end thereof. a hollow tube or shaft 179, the other end of which tube is supported by a bracket 180 (see Fig. 1.) located near the center of the machine. Adjacent to the bracket 180, the tube 179 has mounted thereon, a nozzle carrying member 181, which furnishes communication between the hollow tube 179 and a pair of nozzles 182, suitably secured to the nozzle carrying member; it being understood that suit-able conduits are provided in the nozzle carrying member and the side walls of the tube 179 to connect the The member 181 is low finger 182 which terminates in ablowing nozzle. 'The front of the nozzles 182 terminate close to the upper surface of the conveyor 170, at a point adjacent to the upper edge of the fingers 1 64, and the air issuing continuously from said nozzles will force the sheets down into contact with the conveyor.

Positive (air controlling means (Figs. 2, 5, and 18 to .30 inclusive.)

As machines of the character herein described must handle many-different grades it is desirable to interpose valve means, between the blower side of the pump and the various nozz es or otherblowing devices used in the machine, for the'purpose of regulating the amount of air according to the thickness or weight of the paper. While an ordinary needle or gate valve may be employed for-this purpose, such valves are "not. entirely satisfactory because it is not possible to combine with valves of these types, reliable indicating means which will enable the operator to set the regulating valve. as required. Consequently the operator, when changing from one job to another,

iscompelled to adjustthe valve frequently "fun til. the proper volume of air is secured.

In order to avoid the necessity for this frequent manipulation of the valve andto procarried by the upper end of the ing hole 308,

vide a means which may be instantly adjusted by a single setting to secure a predetermined air pressure or volume in the blowing devices we provide the following construction: the bracket 23 adjacent to the side frame 21 is cored out to provide a chamber 302, (Fig. to which the air from the blowor side of the pump is led by the pipe 303 suitably connected to the bracket 23 and the pump. The upper end of the chamber 302 is closed by a combined valve casing and cover 304 having a pair of similar bosses 305, 306 (Fig. 2), in which the valves 300 and 301. respectively, are rotatably mounted. The valves 300 and 301 are of similar construction and consist of a cylindrical plug having a bore 309 (Figs. 18 to extending inwardly from one end thereof and two sets of circumferentially spaced holes 307, 308

.which communicate with the bore 309. The

holes 307 are of diifere'nt diameters and are adapted to be brought into alignment witlna hole 310, provided in the cover 304 to permit the air from the pump toflow to the bore 309. The holes 308 are all of the same diameter and are so located upon the valve plug that a hole 308 will be brought into alignment with the bore 311, passing through the inclined boss 312 when its corresponding hole 307 is in alignment with the hole 310; it being understood that for each hole 307 there is a corresponding hole 308, located at a distance of 180 about the circumfer ence of the valve plug, and each set of holes being spaced from each other lon itudinally I of the plug so as to permit them to be brought into registry with their co-operating holes 310 and 311. The valve plugs 300, 301 project outwardly of their respective bosses and have secured thereto, the actuating knob or handles 313 and 314 respectively, each of said knobs being provided with'an indicator or pointer 315 adapted to cooperate with an indexplate 315 secured to the cover-304. A plurality of recesses 316 are formed in each valve plug to receive the end of a spring pressed plunger orstop 317 for holding the plugs in their different adjusted positions, there. being a. recess 316 for each co-operating' pair of holes 307, 308. The diameter of the holes 307 are proportioned tosecure the deliver of a predetermined volume or pressure 0 air to theblowing devices for the different thickness or weights of;the paper usually employed. Assuming that the lightest grade of paper is to bring the smallest holes 307 in] alignment with'the hole 310, the air Will flow from the chamber 302 through holes 310'and 307 to the bore 309, thence through the correspondbore 311, and pipes 46, and 134 respectively, to the slot 47" and nozzles 129. If a heavier grade of paper is to be used, the operator turns the knobs 313, 314 to the be used the knobs 313 and 314 are adjusted proper graduation for the particular paper, the plungers 317 snapping into the recesses 316 to hold the valve plugs against accidentel-mined valve opening. While the provi sion of four different sized valve openingswill be suflicient for the ordinary requirements, it will be understood that any desired number or size of valve openings may be'used. V

Cmweyer (Figs. 3, 1; undo). 'The conveyor 170 is in the form of an endless belt which extends horizontally towards the rear of the machine above the label carrying table29. The front part of the conveyor is trained about and driven by the conveyor driving roller 183, which is mounted for ro-' tation in suitable bearings, provided adjacent to the ends of a pair of swinging. arms 184, idler rolls 185 and 186 also being carried by said arms .to guide the flights of the conveyor. The arms 184 are pivot-ally mount- 7 ed to the side frames 21, 22 and are so armoved from the machine.

ranged that the front portion of the conveyor may be swung upwardly so as to permit ready access to the glue rollers and feed rollers for cleaning the same; clamps 184 are pivotally mounted tothe side frames and are adapted to be swung-over the forward ends of the swinging arms 184 to lock said arms in op erative position. From the description of the manner of mounting the fingers 164, it will be apparent that these parts may also be re-' The manner of mounting the paper feed roll 66 and tension plate 154 upon the detachable arms 156 also permits the last mentioned parts to be removed, thus enabling-all of those parts which would otherwise prevent access to the glue applying roller to be removed for the purpose of readily cleaning the same.

As the movable front portion of the con veyor would, because of its weight, be difficult to throw upwardly to its inoperative position, counter balancing means have been provided to assist in lifting these parts. The rear end of the conveyor is trained about a roller 190, supported at the end of a pair of' horizontally extending tubes 191, and each of these tubes have secured therein a spring 192 to one end of which is secured a cable 193, the other end of said cable being anchored, as at 194-, to the brackets 184. Suit-able tension is placed upon the springs 192, when the ends of the cables are fastened at 194, to cause the springs to exert a sufficient pull upon the cables to offset the weight of the parts when the same are being swung to the upper inoperative position.

I As gumming machines of v the character being-pivotally secured to a tie rod 199 extend ng transversely between the side frames ad acent to the base 20. The manner in which the height of the conveyor may be adjusted 'Wlll be readily imderstood; the sleeves 195 being shd longitudinally of the rods 191 and the set screws 196 tightened to hold the parts in an adjusted position.

Driving mechanism (Figs, 1, 2 and 3). Power for driving the machine, is preferably supplied bya motor 200, mounted upon I the bracket 198 pivotally mounted on the tie rod 199 and provided with a driving pulley 201, about which is trained a belt 202, which drives, by means of the pulley 203, drive shaft 204. On the end of drive shaft204, opposite the pulle 203, is secured a pinign 205 (Fig. 3) whic meshes with and drives a gear 206, mounted upon a stub shaft 207. A pinion 208 is connected with the gear 207 to turn therewith, and said pinio'n meshes with and drives a gear 209, loosely mounted upon the shaft of the lower feed roller 67 'A' second gear 210 is fixedly mounted upon the shaft of the feed roller 67 and'drives, by means of an idler gear 211, a gear'212 mounted upon the shaft 158 of the glue applying roller 153. A separable clutch 213, inter-- posed between the gears 209 and210, is, provided with a manually operatable lever 214 for throwing the clutch into or out of engagement,.thereb permitting allof the drivin mechanism a ve and including the feed ro ler 67 to be thrown out without stopping the entire machine. The gear 212 is fixed upon the shaft 158 of the glue applying roller, and is provided with a clutch face 212 with which is adapted to be engaged a cooperating clutch face 215, provided up n a Gear 215 loosely mounted on the shaft 158. The gear 215 mesheswith and is adapted to drive a gear 216, secured to the shaft of the conveyor roller 183, and is provided with a. grooved hub 217 with which is-engaged one end-of a two-armed clutch shifting lever,218, pivoted, as at 219, in the bracket 220, secured to the side frame 21, and a spring pressed plunger 219 urges the lever 218 to the posi-- tion in which the clutch faces 212 and 215 are in engagement. The lower end of the lever218is provided witha cam roller 221 which projects into the path of movement of a cam I formed to throw said lever upon its pivot 219 to disengage the clutch faces212 and 215. The cam 223 is providedwith an annularTslot 223 extending around the outer side of the cam and in which the bolt 223 is engaged for connecting the cam throw 222, adjustably to the cam. A latch lever 260 pivotally secured to the bracket 220 is provided at its lower end with a roller 261, which projects into the to, that it will engage the latch lever 260 to release the lever 218 and permit the engagementof the clutch faces 212", 215' just as the cam shaft begins to rotate, said clutch faces remaining in engagement until the cam moved inwardly to the full line position, the.

throw 222 throws the lower end of the lever 218 inwardly to disengage them During the time the clutch faces are in engagement the rear face of the latch plate- 262 is held b the spring 263 against the for- "ward face 0 the lever218, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17, and whenthe lever 218 is latch lever is swung rearwardly by the spring to cause the latch plate to move in front of v the lever 218 and thereby hold the clutch faces out of engagement as heretofore point ed out. The cam throws 222 and 223 are arranged to throw the levers 218 and 260 re spectively' a short distance beyond the positions shown in Fig. 17 to providesufiic-ient clearance between the latch plate and-lever 218 at the time either of these parts are moving from one position to the other. The wide range of adjustment of the cam throw 222 permitted by the annular T slot 223 enables the-extent of each intermittent movement of the conveyor to be controlled with great accuracy according to-the length ofthe labels being gummed; it being understood that for the shortestlabels the cam 222 will be placed so as to operate shortly after the cam throw 223, While for longer labels the cam 222 will be moved to a position which will permit a longer period of engagement of the clutch faces 212, 215, and therefore a greater travel of the conveyer.

The speed of the conveyer is proportioned to the speed of the machine so that if the cam throw 222 is adjusted to permit the operation of the conveyor durin substantially the entire revolution of cam s aft, theconveyor will travel a distance slightly greaterthan the en tire ofthe longest sheets'or labels the The cam throw 223 is so located upmachine is to handle. The adjustment provided or regulat' the travel of the conveyer insures not only tfie roper drying of the sheets, but also enables the conveyer to be stopped with the sheet at the delivery end thereof in the most convenient position to be removed by the operator at the secondary machine.

The cam shaft 58. is driven by the follow' gearing: A gear 225 mounted vupon a 3% shaft secured in the side frame 21 meshes with the pinion205 upon the main drive shaft 204,.

and said gear has secured to rotate therewith a pinion 226 which meshes with a gear 227, mounted to rotate loosely upon the cam shaft 58.' The rotation of the gear 227 is imparted to the cam shaft by means of a one-revolution knife-clutch of the t pe disclosed in our copending application liereinbefore referred to.

The details of the construction of this type of clutch need not be entered into as suchclutches are well known in the art and form no part of our invention, it being sufficient to state that upon each. revolution of the cam shaft, the knife-edge of the clutch shifting lever 228 engagesa slidable pm 228 and causes the gear 227 to be disconnected from driving engagement with the cam shaft. In order to prevent the inertia of thecam' shaft 58 and connected parts from causin said shaft to continue its' rotation after the 'fe clutch is disengaged,

a friction brake 58' is mounted on said cam shaft. J

A gear 270 is'in mesh with the gear 227 for driving the pump 50, intermediate gearing being provided between pumpshaft and the gear 270.

Means for distant control (Figs. 2 and 8).

The clutch shiftinglever 228 is ivoted, as at 229, to a bracket 230, and pivota y secured to the lower end of said clutch shifting lever is one end of a connecting link 231, the other end of which is" pivotally connected as at 232- with a crank arm 233 secured to the shaft 120. The shaft 120' has also secured thereto a. lever arm 235,.(Fig. 2) which is provided at its lower extremity with an aperture in which the end of a cable 236 or other connecting means is secured. The crank arm 233 is provided with a handle 237 to permit the manual operation of the link 231 and clutch lever 228. The cable 236 extends to the secondary machine to whichthe-conveyer 170 is intended to deliver the gummed labels, and preferably such cable is connected with an operating part of such machine, so as to cause the clutch lever 228 to be automatically actuated in timed relationship therewith.

Means are also" provided to permit the operator ("of the adjacent secondary machine to control the removal of the sheets from the stack by, the suction head. This is accomplished by controlling the operation of the suction release valve 80. Upon the shaft tene frame 21, a

ment in a pa r of guides 252, 253, projecting from the side frame 21 and said rod isheld, in a position to engage the 250, by a spring 254 coiled about and confined between the guide 253 normally trip do said r0 7 and a collar 255 secured to said rod. v The any point upper end of the rod 251 is connected by a link 256 with one arm of a bell crank 257, the other arm of which has connected thereto, a cable 258 or other'suitable means, which leads to an operating lever 259, secured at conveniently accessible to the operator of the secondary machine. The operating lever 259 is preferably constructed in the form-of a bell crank having the cable 258 connected to one arm thereof, in such a manner -that when the lever is actuated to raise the stop rod out of the path of movement of the trip dog, the cable will pass below the pivotal mounting 259 ofthe lever. .A stop pin 259 is provided for limiting this movement of the lever 259 past its dead,cen-

t'er position. While the stop rod 251 is urged by the spring 254 to normally project in the ath' of movement of the 'agement with said dog as shown in Fig. 3 to o d the suction relief valve open, the parts are so constructed and arranged that when the stop rod is moved out of contact with the stop dog, the spring pressed plunger 83 (Fig. 6) will immediately throw the stop dog rearwa'rdly withits upper face under the stop rod tothereby prevent downwardmovement of said rod until the valve 80 is actuated by the cam throw 87. This construction and arrangement .prevents the operator of the secondary machine, from opening the suction valve during the time the suction head is carrying asheet from the stack to the feed rollers.

' Operation.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A stack of labels 30 being placed upon the table 29, the vertically extending side bars 36 and 37 are adjusted to bring them into contact with the side edges of the stack. The hand wheel .122 is then rotated to bring the top sheet or surface of the stack inproper position with respect plate 43. Motor 200 isstirrted and either I the lever 237 or the cable 2361s actuated to cause the one-revolution clutch to be thrown 'to operative position to permit, the rotation of the cam shaft 58, it being understood that the clutch 213 for. operating the gumming roll has been thrown-1n engagement.

Rotation of the cam shaft-58 causes the to be engaged the lower end of a dog 250, and whem,

.5) shoulder 112 with the plate 113, thusoperatt9 the top of thefront' u cams 61 to reciprocate the crank shaft 54 vertically, and said crank shaft is also simultaneously oscillated by means of the cam 63 and actuating link 63, thus producing a com bined to and fro swinging movement and an is commenced, then to swing the sheet across and upwardly over the curved feed plate 65,

and pass its forward edge between the bight of the feed rollers 66, 67. Just as the sheet is engaged by the feed rollers the suction within the suction head is interrupted by the opening of the suction release valve caused by means of the engagement of the cam throw 87, upon the periphery of the right hand cam 61, with the cam roller 81. Immediately before the initial raising of the sheet by the suction head the nozzles 129 are thrown forwardly out of contact with the stack by the cam- 138 and rod 136, during which time the air supply to the nozzles is cut off by the valve 130; the cam 138 permits the nozzles 129 to be returned to operative position after the sheet has been given a preliminary lifting sufficient to permit the ends of the nozzles to extend beneath the sheet and rest upon the top of the stack, the valve 130 then opening to open the air. supply to-the nozzles. The air issuing from the nozzles 129 will be blown between the sheet being removed and the top of the stack and will'raise such sheet sufficiently to prevent its rear end from dragging upon the next sheet'and pulling it forwardly.

During the 'time the suction headis removing .a sheet from the stack, the bar 93 is raised out of contact with the stack. After asuflicient number of sheets have been removed from the stack to bring the top surface thereof below a predetermined level,

set screw 123,.the set screw will engage the:

rod'lll and move it towards the left (Fig. so as to permit the engagement of the mg lever 114, causing oscillation of the pawl "117 and therefore rotation of ratchet 119,

shaft 25 and pinion 26. thereby causing the table 29 to be elevated.

The one-way. knife clutch for the cam shaft. 58 is so arranged that whenit is dis'en gaged' the partswill stop, due to the action of the brake 58, with'the suction head 53 in the position shown in Fig; 4 with the front end of the sheet carried thereby a short 'distancefrom the bight of the feed rolls 66,

67, and with the cam throw 223 in position to begin to engage the roller 261 of latch lever 260, as soon as the cam shaft is again rotated. If now the knife clutch is engaged either by the manual operation of the handle a 237, 01 by the automatic operation caused by the cable 236, the cam shaft will commence/to make its revolution, the suction'head 53 de-1 livering the sheet to the feed rolls (66, '67) which feed the sheet through the restricted spa-re between the tension plate 154 and the extension fingers 65 of the feed plate 65,-it

- being understood that the suction in the a glue applying roller 153, which, as it travels suction head is, automatically broken by the operation of the suction release: valve 80 just as the sheet is passed to the bight of the feed rolls.

The sheet is then carried around by the with a greater speed than the feed roller, causes the adheseive to be applied with a wiping action and thereby insuring a smooth, even coating of the sheet. The sheet is removed from the glue applying roller 153 by the pick-off fingers 164 to the conveyer 170, the air from the nozzles 18,1, 182 blowing upon the forward edge of the sheet to cause,

it to adhere to the conveyer with its gummed surface facing upwardly. Just as the cam shaft 58 begins to rotate, the cam throw 223 causes the latch lever to release the lever 218 and permit the engagement of the clutch faces 212, 215 thus vstarting the conveyer just before the front edge of the sheet is engaged by the pick ofl fingers 164. The movement of the conveyer will continue until the cam throw 222 engages and oscillates the lever 218 to disengage the conveyer clutch, the latch lever 260 holding the lower end of the lever 218 inwardly until the cam throw 223 is again operative. The amountof travel of the conveyer is regulated to cause the confrom the stack and carry it upwardlyoven the feed plate 65, the machine being stopped'' by the disengagementof the one-revolution clutch of cam shaft 58, just as the suction head again reaches the position shown in Fig. 4. Any tendency on the-,partsof the' sheets to curl forwardly over the top of the pick-off fingers is checked by the'air currents which issue from the nozzles 181", 182, said air currents blowing the sheqggi'nto contact with the conveyor, thereby insn'i'inga positive and reliable removal of the sheets by the conveyor and preventing choking' or jam- In the meaning of the gummed sheets between the conveyor and stripping fingers' When it is desired to clean the gum apply ing roller, the operation of the machine is stopped,- clamps-184 are released and the arms 184 swung upwardly; thecurvature of the\ front faces 168 of the vpick-oftfingers about the frontend of the conveyer being such :as to cause this end'of the conveyer to alsoswing the pick-off fingers upwardly about the rod 167 as a pivot The pick-ofi'finger assenibly or frame is then removed, thereby permitting ready access to the'gum applying roller.

The handle 148 is manipulated to lower the glue pan 140 thus carrying the glue roll 149 out of contact with the glue applyin roll 153 and clutch 213 is then disengage to permit the free rotation of the gum applying roller. I

While we have described. our invention; as

exemplified by a gumming machine, it will be obvious that many of the principles, of construction and operation herein disclosed are applicable generally to machines for handling paper irrespective of the particular treatment to which the paper is subjected.

It will also be understood that many changes,

variations and modifications of the construc tional-details of the machine herein disclosed may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention. We claim:

1. In a gumming machine, a support for a .stack of sheets, asuct'ion head movable to and from said stack for removing and transferring the uppermost sheet from said stack,

- a plurality of nozzles for directing a current of air between the sheet being removed and 1 the top surface of the stack, and means to move said nozzles out of the path of movement'of said suction head during the "initial movement of said head.

2. In a gumming machine, a supportfor a stack'of sheets, a suction head movable to g and from said stack for removing and transferring the uppermost sheet from said stack, a plurality of movable mounted nozzles adj acent to the top surface of said stack, means to hold said nozzles normally injuxtaposition .to saidsurface, and means to move said nozzles away from said surface as said sue tion head engages the topsheet of said stack-- 3.1 In a gumming machine, a pluralit of j air blowing nozzles for assisting-in'the ceding of said sheets, a pump for supplying air I to said nozzles and a valve having a plurality of set positions interposed between said ump and nozzles, said vvalve having a di erent sized valvevopemng corresponding to each of itsset positions for lnsuring a defimte air current through said nozzles for each of said positions. 4. In a gumming machine, a plurality of air blowing nozzles for assisting in the feedingof said sheets, a vpump for supplyin air to said nozzles, and a valve mterpose .be-

tween said pump and nozzles for regulating the amount of air flowing to said nozzles in accordance with the nature'of the sheets to be fed, said valve including means for holding it in any of a plurality of set positions, and

to permitdiiferent predetermined amounts of I air to flow to said nozzles, and means associated with said valve for indicatlng the vanous set positions thereof.

5. In a gumming machine, a table for support-mga stack of sheets, a suction head for "removing the uppermost sheet from said and table elevating means fol-causing the top stack, operating means for said suction head,

surface of said stack. to be maintained between predetermined levels, .said'table elevating means including a bar extending across ,said table in spaced parallel. relationship therewith,conne ctions between said table e'le-. vating means and operating means to cause said bar .to be moved towards and from the top surface of said stack in timed relationship vith the movement of said suction head, and

said plate relativelyto said table and stack and adjusting the height of said upper edge thereof, and indexing means for indicating the adjusted positions of, said plate.

9. In a gumming machine, a pair of side frames, a tablefor supporting a stack of sheets mounted between said side frames, feedin mechanism for removingJthe uppermost s eet' from said stack, a plate extending between saidside frames to contact with the front edges of saidtable and stack, means for mounting said plate on said side frames for limited vertical movement relatively to said table and stack and means for adjusting the height of said plate.

1'10. In a gumming machine, a support for a stack of sheets, a suction head forremoving one sheet at atime from said stack, op-

means to adjust said bar relatively "to said table, including means to maintain it in parallelism with said table in all its adjusted positions.

6. In a gumming machine, a table for sup porting a stack of sheets, a' feeding mechafeeding mechanism forremoving the upper-' most sheet from said stack, a plate movably mounted between said side frames in contact with the front edge of, butmnsecured to said table, said plate being adapted-to engage the front edge of the sheets otsaid stack and having its upper edge terminating adjacent said uppermost sheet, and means extending outwardly beyond said side frames for moving said plate relatively to said table and stack and adjusting the height of said upper edge thereof.

8. In a gumming machine, a pair of side frames, a table forsupporting a stack of sheets mounted between said side frames, feeding mechanism for removing the uppermost sheet from said stack, a plate movably mounted between said side frames in contact with the front edge of but unsecured to said table, said plate being adapted to engage the front edges of the sheets of said stack and having its upper edge terminating adjacent said uppermost sheet, means extending outcrating means for imparting a combined reciprocating and oscillating-movement to said head and means for permitting universal'adj ustment of said head relatively to the upper- .most sheet of said stack.

11. In a' gumming machine, a support for a stack of sheets, a suction head for removing one sheet at atime from said stack,operating means for -imparting a combin ing and oscillating movement to said head and means for permitting adjustment of said suction head in the directions of both its reciprocating and oscillating movements.

12. In a gumming machme, a suctionhead head is mounted, means for imparting to said rock shaft and suction head a combined reciprocating' and oscillating movement and an reciprocatfor remoying the outermostsheet' from said stack, a rock shaft upon which said suction arm secured to said rock shaft for preventing vibration of said suction head, and means co- .operating with said arm to produce a slight rearward movement of said suction head sub' stantially parallel to the plane of said outermost'sheet.

13. a gumming machine, a framework, 9. rock shaft mounted for rotary and reciprocatory movement relatively to said framework,

removing the outermost sheet from said stack, means for-oscillating and reciprocating said rock'shaft and the suction head carried thereby, and means to prevent vibratory movei'ne'nt of'said suction, head, as it is moved into wardly beyond said side frames for moving engagement with said sheet, comprising an arm secured to said rock shaft and adapted to engage a stationary abutment of said =12,

framework. I

. '14. In a' gummmg machine a. framework, v having an abutment, a rock shaft mounted for oscillating and reciprocating movement relatively to said framework, a suction head for removing the outermost sheet from said 1 stack, carried by said rock shaft, means for oscillatingand reciprocating said rock shaft, A and suction head, and an arIn; secured; to. I

a. suction 'head carried by said rock shaft, for 

